Abstract: A system and method for establishing protection routes in optical mesh networks. A protection protocol is provided that utilizes a destination-to-source communication channel to establish a source-to-destination protection route. The communication channel is established from the node detecting the failed link back towards the transmitting node. As the destination-to-source communication channel is being established back towards the source node, it concurrently directs the nodes along this path to perform switching functions to subsequently allow the information originally intended for transmission via the failed link to be switched to the alternate protection path. Various manners of ascertaining the protection routes are also provided, including predetermined and/or dynamically-generated protection paths established via the destination-to-source communication channel.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating full utilization of an ultra-wide optical communication band spanning the useable band of the optical transmission spectrum, and providing appropriate protection strategies on the same mesh/ring network for all channels within the ultra-wide optical communication band. A network node architecture includes a band splitter to receive all of the optical signals sent on various wavelengths within the wide optical communication band. The band splitter separates a first group of the optical signals from a second group of the optical signals based on their range of wavelength. The first group of optical signals are those within a first wavelength range of the optical communication band, and the second group is from the second wavelength range of the optical communication band. A cross-connect circuit receives the first and second groups of optical signals, and routes them to targeted output ports at the output section of the node.

Abstract: A performance monitoring system for an all-optical network utilizes a multi-port optical switch and measuring instruments, such as an optical spectrum analyzer and a combination of a tunable optical filter and a quality factor calculator, to provide various signal quality parameters for each optical channel in the network. Quality factor calculations for the optical channels are based upon probability density distribution parameters. Performance monitoring is conducted for an all-optical network during normal operations without having to disconnect any of the optical components from the network.

Abstract: A thermal optical switching system has two optical outputs from each of the thermal optical switches in the last column of an optical switch matrix to switch the optical outputs between an on state, an off state and a split power state.

Abstract: A hybrid, bi-directional, analog/digital WDM access network system, for transmitting/receiving a wavelength of analog signals and a plurality of wavelengths of digital signals which are communicated between a network and a plurality of users, includes a feeder/de/multiplexer for converting the wavelength of analog signals into electrical signals and de/multiplexing the wavelengths of digital signals into a plurality of one-wavelength of digital signals; a plurality of mini-digital optical nodes connecting individually to the feeder/de/multiplexer via a plurality of optic fibers, respectively, each of the mini-digital optical nodes converting one of the one-wavelength of digital signals into electrical signals; and wherein the analog and digital converted electrical signals are transmitted to the user.